intercooler

**ianuk** · 21st March 2011, 20:10

I have spotted on my car that the intercooler has a fair bit of damage,i think it just been battered with stones. Think its time for a new one, whole bottom half of it is wrecked.

Question is, shall i just stick a replacement back on, or buy a after market one the same size, and would it be compatible? I stumbled across these

http://www.universalintercooler.org/buyonline.htm

**cont1204** · 21st March 2011, 20:23

Personally I'd go for an aftermarket one so it's not wedged in behind the air con condenser. The condenser can be pushed backwards if the old intercooler is removed.

However, are you sure it's the intercooler, not the air con condenser (which is right at the front) you're talking about?

**ianuk** · 21st March 2011, 20:34

Hi, thanks for the reply, its both, i don't know how its happened but theres nothing left of the condenser, and i've already bought a replacement.

I was thinking of leaving it and just replacing the condenser but ive spent so much so far on the car, i may as well do the job properly.

So you think put the inter cooler in front of the condenser?

**cont1204** · 21st March 2011, 21:05

It'll be in more direct air flow so really can't do any harm. My intercooler is knackered and seems to have a split in it somewhere. Just got to get it sorted. Was going to go down the front mount route. There's a how 2 somewhere on here telling you how to do it.

**BigWilko** · 21st March 2011, 21:29

Hi mate, I replaced my intercooler on my vec with a genuine GM part (£180) it was a bit of a swine if you dont remove the AC condenser. Having been in there i wouldn't fancy trying to switch them round. If you were going to change it i'd get an upfront one that sits right down in the lower bumper. Also if you remove the AC rad you'll have the added expense of getting it re-gassed.

**ianuk** · 21st March 2011, 23:33

Originally Posted by BigWilko

Hi mate, I replaced my intercooler on my vec with a genuine GM part (£180) it was a bit of a swine if you dont remove the AC condenser. Having been in there i wouldn't fancy trying to switch them round. If you were going to change it i'd get an upfront one that sits right down in the lower bumper. Also if you remove the AC rad you'll have the added expense of getting it re-gassed.

Thats a good idea, but my Ac rad is wrecked anyway, so it has to be changed and ive already bought one. But maybe of trying to push the Ac rad further back, i could leave it where it sits, and mount the intercooler to the front like you say.

I like that idea, cheers fellers.